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15 May, 2008

Neck And Neck At UK Masters

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Heavy rain failed to dampen the spirits of Michael Hempstock and Daniel Brooks who share the lead at nine under par in the Ivobank UK Masters at Collingtree Park.

It was also a memorable day for Stoke by Nayland's Jamie Moul who had a hole in one on the eighth but he could only manage a one under for the day to stand at four over for the tournament.

Brooks (Mill Hill) was an early mover with birdies at the first, second and fourth holes and he picked up six shots in all without dropping one in a fantastic round given the testing weather conditions.

A bogey on the last scuppered Hempstock's chances of the outright lead at ten under, much to the 21-year-old's annoyance after he eagled the ninth for the second time and added five birdies in his round of five under.

"I played solidly but I'm gutted about the bogey on 18," said Hempstock (Doncaster). "The first five holes or so we played in some heavy rain, but I practice in the rain all the time so it didn't really affect me - you get used to it in Doncaster!"

Hempstock, who finished joint second in the opening event at Wensum Valley, is in great shape to go one better here.

"I feel like I should be up there. I worked hard all winter to be in this position and I'm playing well so I'm happy," he said.

Tom Haylock was close to joining Brooks and Hempstock at nine under but a bogey on the ninth - his last - means he sits a shot behind the leader.

Haylock (HES) carded eight birdies, with five on the back nine but will rue dropped shots at the third and twelfth along with nine preventing him from leading the tournament.

Lloyd Kennedy and Elliot Saltman also shot six under to sit seven under after 36 holes, with the former starting and finishing with two birdies and the latter having an eventful back nine, with two pars, two bogeys, four birdies and an eagle at the par five fourteenth.

Australian Daniel Gaunt built on his first round two under with a round of four under. An eagle at the fourth was followed by a bogey at five, but three more birdies followed to put the Selsdon Park GC man right in the mix at six under, where he is joined by yesterday's front-runner Noel Fox.

Full scoreboard here.